MARK 4:31 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ὡς
2. hōs
3. As
4. -
5. 56130
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. S
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24892
1. ὁμοία
2. homoios
3. -
4. -
5. 36640
6. S····NFS
7. similar
8. similar
9. -
10. -
11. 24893
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ is
8. ˱it˲ is
9. -
10. -
11. 24894
1. κόκκῳ
2. kokkos
3. to +a seed
4. -
5. 28480
6. N····DMS
7. ˱to˲ ˓a˒ seed
8. ˱to˲ ˓a˒ seed
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle; F24905; F24931; F24932; F24935; F24945
11. 24895
1. κόκκον
2. kokkos
3. -
4. -
5. 28480
6. N····AMS
7. seed
8. seed
9. -
10. -
11. 24896
1. σινάπεως
2. sinapi
3. of mustard
4. mustard
5. 46150
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ mustard
8. ˱of˲ mustard
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24897
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. -
11. 24898
1. ὅς
2. hos
3. which
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····NMS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24899
1. ὡς
2. hōs
3. -
4. -
5. 56130
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. -
11. 24900
1. ὅταν
2. hotan
3. whenever
4. -
5. 37520
6. C·······
7. whenever
8. whenever
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24901
1. ὁπόταν
2. hopotan
3. -
4. -
5. 36975
6. C·······
7. whenever
8. whenever
9. -
10. -
11. 24902
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. -
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. -
11. 24903
1. ἄν
2. an
3. -
4. -
5. 3020
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. -
11. 24904
1. σπαρῇ
2. speirō
3. it may be sown
4. -
5. 46870
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓may_be˒ sown
8. ˱it˲ ˓may_be˒ sown
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle; R24895
11. 24905
1. ἐπί
2. epi
3. on
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24906
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24907
1. τήν
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 24908
1. γῆς
2. gē
3. earth
4. -
5. 10930
6. N····GFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24909
1. γῆν
2. gē
3. -
4. -
5. 10930
6. N····AFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. -
11. 24910
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 24911
1. μικρότερον
2. mikroteros
3. smaller than
4. small
5. 33985
6. S····NNS
7. smaller ‹than›
8. smaller ‹than›
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24912
1. μικρότερος
2. mikroteros
3. -
4. -
5. 33985
6. S····NMS
7. smaller ‹than›
8. smaller ‹than›
9. -
10. -
11. 24913
1. μέν
2. men
3. -
4. -
5. 33030
6. D·······
7. indeed
8. indeed
9. -
10. -
11. 24914
1. ὄν
2. eimi
3. being
4. -
5. 15100
6. VPPA·NNS
7. being
8. being
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24915
1. ὤν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VPPA·NMS
7. being
8. being
9. -
10. -
11. 24916
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. -
11. 24917
1. πάντων
2. pas
3. all
4. -
5. 39560
6. E····GNP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24918
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GNP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24919
1. σπερμάτων
2. sperma
3. seeds
4. -
5. 46900
6. N····GNP
7. seeds
8. seeds
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24920
1. ἅ
2. hos
3. -
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····NNP
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. -
11. 24921
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. -
11. 24922
1. εἰσίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··P
7. are
8. are
9. -
10. -
11. 24923
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. which
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····GNP
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24924
1. ἐπί
2. epi
3. on
4. -
5. 19090
6. P·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24925
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24926
1. γῆς
2. gē
3. earth
4. -
5. 10930
6. N····GFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24927
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. -
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. -
11. 24928

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:30–34: Jesus told the parable of a mustard seed

This parable compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. The parable illustrates how God’s kingdom will grow from a very small beginning to a very large size.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The parable about a mustard seed

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a tiny seed that grows into a big shrub/bush

The mustard seed parable/story/illustration

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 13:31–34 and Luke 13:18–19.

4:31

The BSB has reordered the clauses in the Greek text. For that reason, the Notes and Display for this verse use the CEV as the base text.

4:31a

It is like a mustard seed,

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed
It is like the seed of the mustard plant/tree,

(CEV:) It is like what happens when a mustard seed: This clause It is like what happens when a mustard seed is a type of comparison called a simile. It compares the kingdom of God to what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. The Jewish people considered the mustard seed to be a symbol of smallness. However, the mustard plant grew to be a tree as large as three meters (ten feet) high.

The point of similarity in this comparison is the contrast in size. The mustard seed is small but the mature plant is large. Like the mustard plant, the kingdom of God is very small at its beginning, but it becomes very large.

Here is another way to translate It is like what happens when a mustard seed:

It is like a tiny grain of mustard-seed which… (JBP)

mustard seed: If people in your language group do not know about mustard seeds or plants, here are some ways to translate mustard seed:

Use a loan word along with a general term if necessary. For example:
a seed of the plant/tree called mustard
Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a very tiny seed If you use this option, you may want to combine the information with 4:31a–b to avoid saying the same thing twice. For example:
The kingdom of heaven is like the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
Use the name of a local seed that is known to be very small, but grows into a tree. If you use this option, you may want to indicate the literal name in a footnote. For example, you could say in the footnote:
The Greek text is literally “a mustard seed.”

Regardless of the way you translate mustard seed, it is suggested that you add a footnote that explains the significance of mustard seed in the Jewish culture. For example:

For the Jews, the mustard seed was a symbol of something that was very small. But the mustard seed that was planted in the country of the Jews grew into a tree that was three meters high.

4:31b

which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.

that someone plants in the ground. A mustard seed is the smallest seed in the world.
which is smaller than all of the seeds of the earth. When you^(plur) plant it in the ground,

(CEV:) is planted in the ground: The Greek verb that the CEV translates as is planted is passive. In some languages you may need to use an active verb and supply a general subject. For example:

you plant in the ground (NCV)

A man…plants it in the ground. (GNT)

(CEV:) It is the smallest seed in all the world: The Greek phrase that the CEV translates as It is the smallest seed in the world is literally: “being smaller than all of the seeds of the earth.” This expression is a hyperbole. It exaggerates the smallness of the seed. This helps teach the point that the kingdom of God started with only a few people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the smallest of all the seeds on earth (RSV)

one of the smallest seeds on earth (GW)

the smallest of all seeds (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

σπαρῇ

˱it˲_˓may_be˒_sown

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [a person has sown it] or [they have sown it]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

μικρότερον & πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων

smaller_‹than› & all the seeds

Jesus says smallest of all the seeds here as a generalization for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: [one of the smallest seeds] or [smaller than most seeds]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. As
2. -
3. 56130
4. S
5. hōs
6. C-·······
7. as
8. as
9. S
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24892
1. to +a seed
2. -
3. 28480
5. kokkos
6. N-····DMS
7. ˱to˲ ˓a˒ seed
8. ˱to˲ ˓a˒ seed
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle; F24905; F24931; F24932; F24935; F24945
11. 24895
1. of mustard
2. mustard
3. 46150
5. sinapi
6. N-····GNS
7. ˱of˲ mustard
8. ˱of˲ mustard
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24897
1. which
2. -
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····NMS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24899
1. whenever
2. -
3. 37520
5. hotan
6. C-·······
7. whenever
8. whenever
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24901
1. it may be sown
2. -
3. 46870
5. speirō
6. V-SAP3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓may_be˒ sown
8. ˱it˲ ˓may_be˒ sown
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle; R24895
11. 24905
1. on
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24906
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24907
1. earth
2. -
3. 10930
5. gē
6. N-····GFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24909
1. being
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-PPA·NNS
7. being
8. being
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24915
1. smaller than
2. small
3. 33985
5. mikroteros
6. S-····NNS
7. smaller ‹than›
8. smaller ‹than›
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24912
1. all
2. -
3. 39560
5. pas
6. E-····GNP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24918
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GNP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24919
1. seeds
2. -
3. 46900
5. sperma
6. N-····GNP
7. seeds
8. seeds
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24920
1. which
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····GNP
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24924
1. on
2. -
3. 19090
5. epi
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24925
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24926
1. earth
2. -
3. 10930
5. gē
6. N-····GFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y31; TSeaside_Parables_and_Miracle
11. 24927

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear MARK 4:31

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 4:30–34: Jesus told the parable of a mustard seed

4:31

4:31a

4:31b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)